Ian Maatsen could be perfect for West Ham United as Chelsea push to keep him
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettinho has told Ian Maatsen that he wants him to stay at Stamford Bridge and sign a new contract amid interest from West Ham, according to the Evening Standard.
Throughout Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America, the 21-year-old was one of the standout stars and the newspaper report on their website (5 August) that the left-back wants assurances of his first-team involvement.
Maatsen spent last season on loan with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley scoring four times and assisting on six more occasions in 39 matches as they won the Championship at a canter, and it is understood both Kompany and David Moyes are among those pursuing his signature.
The Dutchman would be an excellent signing for the Hammers but looks destined to remain at Stamford Bridge beyond this summer despite competing with Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucuerlla for minutes in the top flight.
Maatsen would have allowed Moyes a more attacking full-back than any that are currently at his disposal, with the Chelsea defender a genuine creative force rather than a defensibly solid old-fashioned defender first like Aaron Cresswell.
Looking at the 21-year-old’s FBREf scouting report, Maatsen is an excellent progressor of the football, better than nearly all full-backs in the Championship, sitting in the 96th percentile of his positional peers for progressive passes per 90 minutes and the 92nd for progressive carries.
Part of this was due to the amount of possession Kompany’s side managed last season, allowing Maatsen to average an insanely high 74.43 passes a game, more than 96% of full-backs in England’s second tier and it is hard to imagine he would be afforded as much time on the ball in the top-flight.
But as a goal threat, few are better than Maastsen, he averaged 2.55 shot-creating matches per 90, placing him in the top 20% full-backs and he also sits above the 80th percentile for assists and goals per game when compared to other full-backs.
Defensively, the Dutchman can be suspect, with plenty of red on show across his scouting report, falling well below the average in terms of blocks, clearances and especially aerials won per 90, only standing at 5ft 6 he can be targeted with long balls, a tactic used much more in the Championship than the Premier League.
That’s why Chelsea want him
Maatsen’s incredible attacking ability is exactly why Chelsea want to keep him in West London and Pochettino has deployed him in a more advanced role during pre-season, but the Hammers need to be ready to strike if he becomes available.
The 21-year-old wants to play first-team football consistently this season and if he doesn’t see that happening at Stamford Bridge, he may well look quickly to the exit door and the Irons should be waiting in the wings to secure his services.
They reportedly remain front runners, should he leave the Blues, and he would fit the younger mould of players that those above Moyes want to bring to the London Stadium while still offering enough quality to convince the Scotsman he is worth spending a substantial fee on.
This could be a transfer pursuit that could spark into life between now and the end of August, it would be perfect.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have reached a verbal agreement for their first signing of the summer